David Randall rolls to handcycling win

Racers in the the Hand-Bike USA Cycling Professional Road National Championships take off from the starting line Monday in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Photo by
Doug Strickland/Times Free Press.

Wiping sweat from his face Monday, David Randall had nothing but good things to say about his experiences in Chattanooga the past few days. And for good reason.

A few minutes before, on a one-mile circuit around downtown, Randall had just blown away the field in the USA Cycling Handcycling Criterium Championship. That gave him a sweep of the weekend's events after winning the U.S. Handcycling Series Time Trial on Saturday.

"It was good," he said, smiling. "I'm happy with that."

In a field of 24 racers, Randall was part of the lead pack that pulled ahead early -- and got smaller and smaller as racers fell off the pace. With four laps to go it was a four-man group: Randall, Butch Martin, Alfredo De los Santos and Dane Pilon.

By the time the leaders passed the start-finish line again, Randall had a 75-yard lead on De Los Santos, while Martin was farther back and Pilon was out of the race due to tire trouble. With two laps to go Randall was even farther ahead, and at the bell lap he had a 38-second gap and cruised to the win.

De Los Santos finished second and Martin was third.

"I knew it couldn't come down to a sprint, but with Dane flattened that kind of made it a little easier," Randall said.

It was a flat and fast course, primarily on Market and Broad streets, which suited Randall well.

"I like this course," he said. "It's good because we can get up to good speeds and it's good for the crowd."

Contact John Frierson at jfrierson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6268. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/MocsBeat.